Director of Sales

About us

We're solving AI's hardest problem: alignment.

Encord is the data layer for Physical AI and enterprise, serving as core infrastructure for 300+ of the world's leading AI teams, including Woven by Toyota, Hitachi, Skydio, AbbVie and Dyna, Walden and Agility Robotics. From autonomous vehicles and robotics to sports and healthcare, we're solving AI's hardest problem: turning complex, real-world data into production-ready intelligent systems.

We're a team of founders, scientists, quants, researchers, and former Olympians, who’ve helped build some of the most successful companies in Silicon Valley, and alumni of MIT, Stanford, UC Berkeley, Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial. We’ve raised $110M from legendary technology investors, early backers of companies like Databricks, ElevenLabs and Vercel, and we’re growing at an extraordinary pace.

We're looking for exceptional people who want to help build a category-defining company, operating with high urgency and taking real ownership to help shape the future of AI.

The role

We're looking for a founding Sales Director to lead revenue growth across our markets. This is a rare opportunity to join a hyper-growth AI infrastructure company in a true leadership seat — reporting directly to the VP of Global Sales and working alongside the co-founders. You'll come in as a leader, inherit and grow a team, and shape how we go to market as we scale.

What you'll do

• Lead and grow a high-performing sales team — hiring, coaching, and developing Encord sellers while staying close to the market yourself

• Own revenue growth across your market — taking the product to leading AI and tech businesses and scaling to $millions in ARR

• Navigate complex, full-cycle enterprise and mid-market sales with customers ranging from fast-growing startups to Fortune 500s

• Partner with the VP of Global Sales on GTM strategy, ICP expansion, and new verticals — with a clear path to owning an expanded geography, sector, or team as we scale

• Roll up your sleeves and run sales cycles yourself during the ramp period — learning the product, the buyers, and the motion firsthand so you can coach your team from experience, not theory

• Become the authoritative voice on how Encord is positioned and pitched — setting the standard for the team around you

• Represent Encord externally — at industry events, in senior customer relationships, and across the broader AI and Physical AI ecosystem

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, and Customer Success to shape the roadmap and inform go-to-market decisions

• Step up wherever needed: marketing, events, community, onboarding — this is a founding leadership role

Who we're looking for

• A proven sales leader with a track record of building and scaling high-performing teams — and the commercial credibility to lead from the front

• Someone who thrives in ambiguity — you don't wait for a playbook, you write it

• Deep experience selling technical products to technical buyers — ML engineers, data scientists, CTOs, and AI platform leads

• A builder mentality — you want to leave something behind, not just hit a number

• High commercial IQ — able to navigate complex, multi-stakeholder deals while keeping momentum and coaching others to do the same

• Genuine excitement about Physical AI and where the market is going

Experience requirements

• 7–12 years in GTM roles at B2B SaaS companies, with a proven track record of leading and scaling high-performing sales teams

• Demonstrated ability to hire, develop, and retain top sales talent — you've built teams, not just joined them

• Strong commercial intuition with the ability to build rapport and influence at all levels — from junior operators to CTOs

• The gravitas to engage and win over senior leadership, and the ability to instil that same credibility in the people around you

• Track record of top-percentile performance in sales leadership, academia, sport, or any competitive environment you've entered

• A clear point of view on what great GTM looks like — and the conviction to build it from scratch in a fast-moving environment

Why Encord

• Competitive salary, commission, and meaningful equity in a high-growth startup

• Clear, accelerated growth opportunities as the company scales rapidly

• Strong in-person culture: 4 days/week

• Daily team lunches & dinners

• Annual learning & development budget

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage

• US employees: 18 paid vacation days plus US public holidays

• UK employees: 25 paid vacation days plus UK public holidays

• Frequent travel opportunities across the U.S., London, and Europe

• Bi-annual company offsites & monthly socials

Operating principles

High agency

You see something broken, you fix it or find the person who can. We celebrate the people who solve 90% of a problem before anyone asks.

Build with care & urgency

We bear-hug the customer. Former founders and people from fast-moving, high-stakes environments thrive here.

Self-aware & hungry

We stay warm, self-aware, and genuinely hungry. We elevate our peers, and ego doesn't last long.

Invent in real time

We move toward the ambiguity. We’re pragmatic, resourceful, energized by the fact that there's no playbook.

If you're looking to do the most meaningful work of your career alongside people who push you to be better, we'd love to meet you.